These Beautiful Photos Detail The Construction Of The Eiffel Tower

La Tour Eiffel, aka The Eiffel Tower, is a puddle iron lattice tower and one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. Located on Champ de Mars in Paris, France, the tower is named after its designer Gustave Eiffel. It was built in 1889 as the entrance arch to the World’s Fair.

#1 Gustave Eiffel

Engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel had designed many bridges and viaducts before he was commissioned to build the tower.

#2 Construction Halted Temporarily

Construction began on January 28, 1887, but was halted due to safety concerns and structural integrity.

#3 Safety Precautions

Surprisingly, only one person died during construction; thanks to Eiffel’s safety precautions and the use of guardrails.

#4 Halfway Done

Pedestrians need to climb 300 steps in order to reach the first level from the ground. A staircase to reach the top level exists, but it is typically accessed by the elevator.

#5 Almost There

Three levels were constructed for the visitors that was completed with restaurants on the first and second levels. The observation deck is available for viewing for members of the European Union.

#6 Construction Complete

Just about finished. The Eiffel Tower was surprisingly criticized by many artists because of its design. Protesting artists wrote, “imagine for a moment a giddy, ridiculous tower dominating Paris like a gigantic black smokestack.” It has now become one of the most iconic buildings ever built.

#7 Eiffel’s Tower

Engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel poses for a photo at the completion of construction in 1889 before the Paris Exposition and World’s Fair to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution.

#8 The Gateway To Paris

When finished, the tower stands at 324 meters, or 1,063 feet, tall. It is around the same height as an 81 story building.

#9 From The Base

The Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to become the tallest structure in the world until 1930 when the Chrysler Building was constructed in New York City.

#10 Lights Added

Lights were added so residents and visitors of Paris could enjoy the beautiful tower throughout the night.